Democratic Standard

THE PRESENT CONTEST DETERMINES WHETHER CORPORATIONS SHALL SERVE OR RULE US.—THE STRUGGLE IS DESPERATE.

The leaders of the whig party well understand that if the Democracy succeed in the approaching Presidential election, and retain their ascendency in the State Governments, they will be able to carry out the reform they have begun in the currency and financial affairs of the country,—a reform, which, when tested by its results, will so strongly commend itself to the public mind as to resist all efforts against it. On the other hand, they well understand that if they succeed, they can plant themselves so firmly upon the necks of the people, by the establishment of a National Bank and other kindred measures, that no party can hereafter be successfully brought to bear against them.

Considering, then, the great end which they are hoping to attain,—the subjugation of the political and pecuniary interests of the country to their permanent control,—with prospects of success, at least, not desperate in their own estimation, and with a knowledge, too, that this is the crisis of the paper money power,—that now it must be forever dethroned or permanently fixed upon the country,—and considering, too, the reckless, unscrupulous character of those leaders: who, we ask, can doubt the intensity of the struggle which we are approaching!

Democrats are you prepared for it? ready and armed, on all points, to meet and resist the rancor and falsehood,—the bribery and oppression, by which that contest will be characterised—prepared with reasons and facts, with which to support the weak and encourage the timid, and fix home upon your enemies, the guilt of tampering with the currency destroying the credit, and trifling with the interests of the community? If so well; but if you rely upon your usual exertions, confiding in the justice of your cause, you may wake from your apathy in defeat, with your country enslaved.